Next Rung Radio

What if your greatest pain became the foundation for your life's purpose?

In this inspiring episode of Next Rung Radio, Ron Creech sits down with entrepreneur, interior designer, chocolatier, and survivor advocate Evan Stoner. From building Nashville's beloved Poppy & Peep Chocolate to designing unforgettable spaces, Evan shares how resilience, creativity, and faith have shaped every chapter of her journey.

She opens up about ove...

How much of your life is being controlled by a story that was never true?

In this deeply moving episode of Next Rung Radio, Ron Creech sits down with self-image expert, author, and speaker Doug Dane to uncover how childhood trauma, abuse, shame, and self-doubt can quietly shape an entire lifetime. Doug shares his remarkable journey from surviving unimaginable abuse to discovering that there was never anything wrong with him—on...

What does it take to chase a dream that started at 15 years old and never let go?

Country artist Noah Hutton returns to Next Rung Radio to share what has changed since his last visit, including getting married, releasing new music, opening for major artists, and navigating the highs and lows of the music business. From sleeping in the uncertainty of "what's next" to stepping onto stages with unwavering faith, Noah opens up about the...

What does it take to turn a backyard smoker into one of Nashville’s most recognized barbecue brands?

In this episode of Next Rung Radio, Ron Creech sits down with entrepreneur and HoneyFire BBQ founder Ben Claybakerto discuss the real story behind building a thriving restaurant business from the ground up.

From working at a small-town barbecue restaurant in Arkansas to opening multiple locations across Nashville, Ben shares the...

In this heartfelt episode of Next Rung Radio Podcast, Ron Creech sits down with husband-and-wife country duo Leanne Wise and Derek Allen of October Rose to talk about building a life, family, and music career together through faith, grit, and unwavering commitment.

From meeting at a small New Jersey gig to touring across the country with their daughter, the duo opens up about navigating rejection, chasing dreams, balancing marriage ...

In this heartfelt and entertaining episode of Next Rung Radio Podcast, Ron Creech sits down with powerhouse musical duo Wendy Newcomer and David Spiker to talk about music, marriage, tradition, and the magic of Nashville’s legendary honky-tonk scene.

From performing at the iconic Robert's Western World to building a life together through music, Wendy and David share incredible stories about balancing creativity, family, tourin...

In this deeply inspiring and wisdom-filled episode of Next Rung Radio Podcast, Ron Creech sits down with music industry veteran, mentor, entrepreneur, and legacy-builder Steve Goldinger for an unforgettable conversation about life, purpose, resilience, and the power of relationships.

From working alongside legendary artists and helping launch careers in the music industry to preserving the teachings and legacy of iconic vocal coach ...

What if success wasn’t about waiting until 65 to finally enjoy your life? In this powerful episode of Next Rung Radio Podcast, Ron Creech sits down with financial expert, best-selling author, and founder of Adams Wealth Partners, David Adams, for a deeply inspiring conversation about money, purpose, legacy, and freedom.

From helping overwhelmed creatives and entrepreneurs build wealth with intention to teaching families how to...

Some conversations aren’t polished… they’re real.

And this one hits deep.

Hannah Key shows up with raw honesty, opening up about the intersection of faith and mental health in a way most people are too afraid to. As a model and licensed esthetician, she’s built a life of beauty on the outside—but behind the scenes, she’s faced years of internal battles with ADHD, anxiety, and identity.

This episode...

She walked in chasing a dream… and walked out owning her voice.

Presley Tennant is not just another rising country artist. She’s a force shaped by discipline, self-awareness, and the courage to pivot when something doesn’t feel real. From her early days balancing competitive soccer and music, to stepping onto the national stage of The Voice, Presley’s journey is a powerful reminder that clarity comes from ex...

What if one song could bring you back to the people you miss the most?

Robert Eskridge is not just a country artist. He’s a storyteller shaped by real life, hard decisions, and the kind of values that never go out of style. From his Kentucky bluegrass roots to sharing stages with rising legends, Robert built his journey through passion, family, and a relentless commitment to doing things the right way.

In this episode, Robert o...

What happens when a father’s curiosity turns into a world class destination?

Jeffrey Gassioni did not just discover kart racing through his son. He saw a bigger vision. What started with loading a few karts into a trailer and exploring tracks around the country became Music City KartPlex, a high level racing experience built from the ground up in Tennessee.

In this episode, Jeffrey shares how he walked away from the security of...

What happens when life suddenly forces you to slow down and rebuild everything you thought was certain?

Jill Brooks knows that moment well. After years of performing music across the country and building a thriving career, she received a life changing medical diagnosis that completely shifted her daily life. But instead of letting it define her, she chose to keep moving forward one day at a time.

Today Jill leads an award winning bea...

What do you do when life is breaking your heart and the fight feels endless?

Brynn Daniels found laughter in the middle of one of the hardest seasons of her life. While walking through a painful custody battle, family stress, and emotional exhaustion, comedy became more than a stage for her. It became a lifeline. What started as a stand up class turned into a powerful outlet for healing, hope, and helping others breathe again.

In thi...

What does it take to write more than 400 songs and still chase the next one?

Singer songwriter Olivia Francis has been following her inner voice since she picked up a piano at six years old. From open mic nights in Cincinnati to building a career in Nashville, she has turned courage, discipline, and relentless creativity into a growing catalog of music that blends folk, pop, and the beauty of the natural world.

In this conversation, ...

What if music had colors?

Songwriter and artist Ford Cooper experiences music in a way that most people never will. Sounds become colors. Melodies become emotion. Lyrics become pictures in his mind. What some might call neurodivergence, Ford calls a creative superpower.

In this fascinating conversation, Ford opens up about how he writes songs by visualizing sound, using color as an emotional compass while crafting melodies and lyrics...

From childhood trauma and losing his mother at 10, to inspiring audiences across 45 states, Dr. Jay Banks proves that faith, humor, and imagination can heal even the deepest scars. He's written for Disney Productions, appeared on Nickelodeon and Hallmark, and created the award-winning “I Am Unafraid” anti-bullying movement. In this conversation, Dr. Jay shares how comedy became survival, why windows of the heart open wh...

Jay Austin’s redemption story moves from addiction, abuse, and years behind bars to a peace he can’t explain without Jesus. In this raw Nashville testimony, Jay shares the moment God “stopped him in his tracks” at a Circle K, how Men of Valor reshaped his identity in Christ, and why community, accountability, and the right voices matter. We talk suicide prevention, transforming shame into wisdom, parenting t...

World-class guitarist and storyteller Bill Worrell (America) unpacks how imagination, discipline, and humility shape a sustainable music career. From touring with America and sharing bills with Chicago and the Beach Boys to building a YouTube audience and studying the modern music business at Berklee Online, Bill explains why rhythm and space make solos sing, how classical precision and jazz freedom sharpen feel, and what it really...